Weekend Update
It could be a very busy 72 hours throughout the game leading up to Christmas, especially if the Rakuten Eagles finally make a decision, one way or the other, to post Masahiro Tanaka. Players prefer to know where they will be playing prior to the holidays and there are several free agents still unsigned for next season.
The last high-dollar, long-contract, free-agent position player of the off-season came off the board on Saturday when Shin-Soo Choo agreed to a seven-year, $130 … [Read more...]

The Cubs announced the coaching staffs for all minor league levels and field coordinators on Wednesday. There was very little turnover or changes made to the coaching staffs that were in the Cubs' system a year ago with the exception of the pitching coaches.
Marty Pevey (Triple-A Iowa), Buddy Bailey (Double-A Tennessee), Dave Keller (High-A Daytona), Mark Johnson (Low-A Kane County) and Gary Van Tol (Short-Season, Low-A Boise) were retained to run the five upper level teams in the Cubs' … [Read more...]

The Cubs’ fans that are hoping for a seven-game Fall Classic might want to root for a Boston four-game sweep instead. According to a report from the Sun-Times, the Cubs are going to wait for a chance to interview Red Sox’s bench coach Torey Lovullo for the managerial opening. Peter Gammons reported the Cubs talked to Lovullo briefly about the Cubs job but would wait until after Boston’s season ended before asking for permission to discuss their managerial opening further with Lovullo.
Paul … [Read more...]

Matt Garza returned to Chicago on Thursday following his first rehab start with the Smokies on Wednesday afternoon. Garza said he feels great and is really looking forward to his second rehab start, which will be Monday with the Iowa Cubs.
The Cubs would like Garza to complete at least three more minor league rehab outings. Garza would not give a timeframe on when he could return to the Cubs’ rotation. According to ESPN Chicago, the Cubs are hoping Garza can return to the rotation by the end … [Read more...]

Ian Stewart told the Des Moines Register on Tuesday that he does not think he is ready to return to the Cubs. Stewart explained that he needs more time after struggling over 12 rehab games with Iowa. But the problem is that position players are allowed only 20 days on a single rehab assignment which means Stewart’s rehab time in Iowa runs out after Friday.
Brian Harper has been working with Stewart and has seen progress, and so has Iowa’s manager, Marty Pevey.
Ian Stewart went 0-for-4 on … [Read more...]

With the roster set, at least for the time being, with the big league team, the Iowa Cubs announced their 2013 Opening Day roster on Monday afternoon. The I-Cubs open the 2013 season on Thursday, April 4 (7:35pm CDT) at Albuquerque against the Isotopes.
Marty Pevy will lead the I-Cubs in 2013 with Brian Harper serving as the team’s hitting coach while Mike Mason will handle the pitching staff.
Brett Jackson, Logan Watkins and Josh Vitters highlight the position players on the roster while … [Read more...]

The Cubs announced the coaching staffs for all minor league levels and field coordinators on Tuesday morning. The Cubs retained several coaches and reassigned a few of them to different levels of the system as well as added a few new coaches to the organization.
Marty Pevey will manage the I-Cubs after serving as the minor league catching coordinator for the last three seasons. Brian Harper, as expected, was named hitting coach of the I-Cubs. Harper managed the Smokies in 2011 and the D-Cubs … [Read more...]

Baseball's off-season figures to be rather busy over the next few weeks leading into the holidays. Teams are not done and that includes the Cubs. Even with Zack Greinke reportedly agreeing to terms on a six-year, $147 million contract with the Dodgers several big name players are still on the market and while the Cubs are not in the mix for those players, the deals they are working on will be held up until other pieces fall into place.
The Cubs are looking for pitching, both relievers and … [Read more...]

When the off-season began, Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer said they were looking to add at least two starting pitchers, an outfielder, a third baseman, a veteran back-up catcher and relievers to the Cubs roster. The Cubs added two players to the roster this week and there are more roster moves on the horizon.
The Cubs announced the signing of catcher Dioner Navarro on Friday. The Cubs inked Navarro to a one-year deal worth a guaranteed $1.75 million that includes $250,000 in performance bonuses. … [Read more...]

Meet the Mesa Solar Sox: Position Players and Coaches
This is the second of two articles highlighting the players from the Cubs organization who will be taking part in the 2012 Arizona Fall League, which starts tomorrow (Tuesday, October 9). Today, the CCO will be looking at the position players and coaches that will be suiting up for the Mesa Solar Sox. … [Read more...]